Kolínská řepařská drážka

The Kolin-Sendražice Museum Train Station

Route length:

10.6 km

		Cukrovar Kolín
		Railway line Kolín – Děčín
		Kolín- Sendražice (museum station)
		Černý Most

		Frantiskov
		Výrovna
		Písečný mlýn
		Býchory
		Eleonorov
		Jestřabí Lhota

Kolínská řepařská drážka ( Czech for Kolin beet railway ) was the oldest beet railway in the Czech Republic . It has a gauge of 600 mm and was built in 1894 as a works railway for the Kolín sugar factory .

history

The Kolin beet railway was founded in 1894 by the businessman Adolf Richter. It originally ran over 10.6 km from the sugar factory in Kolín via Býchory to Jestřabí Lhota on the narrow gauge of 600 mm, which is typical for factory railways . Františkov ( Ovčáry ) was also connected via a 0.8 km long branch line . The route for transporting sugar beet survived both the First and Second World Wars and was in operation for over 70 years. In 1966 it was shut down and most of the facilities dismantled. The Kolín power station is now located on the site of the sugar factory.

reconstruction

In 2000 the association Klub pro obnovu Kolínské řepařské drážky ("Club for the Renewal of the Kolin Beet Railway") was founded. The aim of the club was to rebuild the Kolín – Býchory line and to set up a museum on the history of the cultivation and processing of sugar beet in the region. In addition, the railway should be reopened in three stages.

In January 2005 the Kolín City Office handed over the premises required for the museum railway to the association. In the following years, a train station with all buildings was built in Sendražice . The station building and engine shed were completely rebuilt based on original drawings from the former kkStB .

On June 23, 2007, museum railroad operations began on a two-kilometer section of the rebuilt line. In addition to various diesel locomotives stands for train traffic also an operational steam locomotive of CKD -type BS80 available that has been specially restored for the museum train.

In 2015 the extension of the route to Býchory was opened.

Museum train station project
Track under construction
Museum station under construction
Opening move on June 23, 2007

Vehicle use

The operation was originally carried out with steam locomotives. After the Second World War, diesel locomotives were also used. The two-axle ČKD types B 600/70 and BN 60 were typical. The freight cars each held 8 tons of sugar beet.